Applicator



July 26, 1938. c. T. WALTER 2,124,722

APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 1s. 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR July 26, 1938. f c. T. WALTER 2,124,722

` APPLICATOR FiledV Dec. 15, 1935 4 sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR l y #www ,N

ATTORNEY c. T. WALTER' July 26, 193s.

APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY-@f/@fd ATTORNEYl Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLICATOR Application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,181

16 Claims.

This invention relates to means for applying a congealable material to the ends of tubular bodies. Y

One of the objects of this invention is to provide means for depositing a bead of congealable material upon the peripheral edges of a tubular body.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for applying a congealable material to the ends of fibrous container bodies by which the body wall will be sealed against capillary attraction of the material placed within the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for sealing the ends of a fibrous container body against capillary attraction of vproduct placed therein and for depositing a bead of congealable compound upon the peripheral edges thereof in one continuous operation.

Other objects will be apparent from the de- .scription and claims which follow.

For a full understanding of the several aspects of this invention, reference may be had to the :drawings accompanying this specification i inverting the container bodies as they are discharged from the material applying mechanism.

Figure is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating the relationship of the inverting mechanism to the material applying mechanism.

Figure 6 is an end View of the material applying mechanism in Which is illustrated the scraping means secured at the ends thereof.

Figure 7 is a side view of the scraping means shown in Figure 6.

In the drawings, the numeral I represents suitable framework mounted upon standards or uprights 2, 3, 4, and 5. Standards 2, 3, 4, and 5 are bolted or otherwise secured to floor 6 by angle brackets 1.

Tray 8 carries a working supply of a congealable material and is rigidly mounted upon raised platform 9 bolted or otherwise secured to framework I.

Roller I0 is secured to shaft II journaled in bearings I2 and I3. Bearings I2 and I3 are secured by bolts I4 and I5 to anges I6 and I'I which are secured to framework I. 'I'hrust movement of roller I0 is prevented by enlarged portions or collars 2| and 22 secured to shaft II between roller Ill and bearings I2 and I3, respectively. Roller IU is partially submerged within the supply of congealable material contained in tray 8 and, when rotated, is continuously supplied with av film of the material. Roller I0' is graduated in diameter substantially one-quarter of an inch to the foot from small end 23 to large end 24, Ito vassure positive contact with the container bodies 25 carried from the small end to the large end. Shaft II is rotated by chain 26 trained between sprocket wheels 21 and 28 pinioned Vto shaft I I and drive shaft 29, respectively. Shaft 29 is journaled in suitable bearings such as bearing 30 secured to beam 3l by bolts 32 and is driven by suitable gearing connected to a motor or other source of power not shown.

Roller 33 is secured to shaft 34 journaled in bearings 35 and 36. Bearings 35 and 36 are slidably mounted in guideways 31 and 33 provided on brackets 39 and 40 rigidly secured to supports 4I and 42, respectively. Supports 4I and 42 are secured to framework I by bolts 43 and 44, respectively. Roller 33 is also graduated in diameter substantially one-quarter of an inch to the foot in a direction counter to roller I0 and is held in adjustable relationship with roller I0 by screw spindles 45 and 48 pivotally secured to bearings 35 and 36.

Screw spindles 45 and 46 are engaged in threaded openings provided in angle brackets 41 and 48 bolted or otherwise secured to supports 4I and 42, respectively. Roller 33 is maintained in end-to-end relation with roller Il) by collars 49 and 50 pinioned to shaft 34 adjacent to bearings 35 and 36, respectively. Shaft 34 is driven by Igear wheels 5I and 52 pinioned to shafts II and 34, respectively.

Figure 3 of the drawings presents a sectional view taken from the entrance end of container bodies 25, from which end roller I0 is shown as rotating in a clockwise direction while roller 33 is shown rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. Roller 33 serves as a scraping means to roller I0 by which the film of congealable material carried from tray 8 by roller I0 can be adjusted to any desired thickness. Only that thickness of lm which can pass between the two rollers remains on the surface of roller I 0 after passing the plane of adjustment with roller 33. The counter graduation of roller 33 in relation to roller I0 serves to uniformly regulate the film of material on roller I0' throughout its entire length. The counter rotation of roller 33 presents an ever-changing scraper surface by which clogging of applicating mechanism by rea- Yson of congelation of the congealable material is eliminated.

Scraping elements 53 and 54 are flexibly mounted at the ends of rollers I0 and 33. Scrapers 53 and 54 are rigidly secured to smooth spindles 55 and 58 journaled in suitable bearings provided in arms 51 and 58 of cross-piece 59. Crosspiece 59 is secured by bolts 60 and 6| to standards 52 and 63 secured by bolts 64 and 65 to framework I.

Scrapers 53 and 54 are bent at their free ends in such a manner as to present scraping edges 66 and 61 against the edges of the end faces of rollers |0 and 33. The scraper at each end is positioned as shown in Figures 6 and '1 whereby one scraper cleans the face of both rollers at that end. Scrapers 53 and 54 serve to prevent the congealable material from piling up on the ends of rollers I0 and 33 and are held in flexible engagement with the ends of rollers I9 and 33 by coil springs 68 pinioned to spindles 55 and 58 and their respective bearings. Spindles 55 and 56 are provided with winged handles 69 to provide means for flexing scrapers 53 and 54 away lfrom rollers I0 and 33 to permit removal of congealed material which will tend to accumulate on the under surface of scrapers 53 and 54 from time to time. Material removed from the ends of rollers I0 and 33 by Scrapers 53 and 54 is deflected into tray 8.

Elongated plate 10 serves as a vertical wall to guide container bodies conveyed over roller I0. Plate 10 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to frame I2 and to upright 14 by bolt 13. Guide plate 10 longitudinally traverses roller I0 slightly to one side of the axis of rotation of roller I0, by which a portion of the ends of the container bodies passing over roller I0 will engage roller I0 at a. plane substantially vertical to its axis of rotation.

Endless belt 15 is mounted parallel to and a suitable distance from guide plate 10 by which container bodies 25 are held in frictional engagement with plate 10. Belt 15 is mounted upon drive pulley 16 and idler pulley 11. Idler pulley 11 is mounted upon shaft 18 integral with standard 19, secured to framework I at its threaded end by nut 89. Drive pulley 'I6 is pinioned to shaft 8| journaled in tubular upright 82 secured to framework by bolts 83.

Beveled gears 84 is pinioned to the lower end of shaft 8| and is meshed with beveled gear 85 pinioned to shaft 86. Shaft 86 is journaled in bearings 81 secured by bolts 88 to brackets 89 rigidly secured to framework I. Shaft 86 is driven by chain 99 trained between sprocket wheels 9| and 92 pinioned to shafts 88 and 29, respectively.

Idler pulley 93 is mounted upon shaft 94 integral with standard 95. Base 96 of standard 95 is provided with slots 91 to provide adjustment of pulley 93 in relation to belt 15. Standard 95 is held in fixed position on framework I by bolts 98. Pulley 93 provides means for holding belt 15 taut around pulleys 16 and 11.

Plate 99 is rigidly secured by bolts |00 to standards 62 and 63. Plate 99 is mounted immediately in back of the working area of belt 15 and serves to prevent belt 15 from being deected from a straight line position, thus assuring positive rotation of the container bodies durof the ends of the container bodies in engagey ment with roller I will be coated with a lm of congealable material by which to seal the container wall against capillary attraction of the product placed therein and simultaneously a bead of congealable material will be deposited against the inner peripheral edge of the container body as indicated by the numeral |9| in Figure 6. As the container bodies are rotatably conveyed over roller I0, the entire periphery of the container end will be brought into engagement therewith.

It will be seen that by reversing the direction of rotation of roller I0 the congealable material will be deposited on the outer rather than the inner peripheral edge.

By the employment of two such rollers rotating in opposite directions over which the container bodies may pass in succession, a bead of material may be applied which will cover the end edges and lap over on the inner and outer peripheral edges.

,Rectangular frame |02 is rigidly secured a suitable distance from the discharge end of the applicating mechanism by brackets |03 and bolts |94 to uprights |05 secured by bolts |06 and |01 to framework I and cross-beam |08, respectively. Frame |92 encompasses the path of travel of container bodies 25 and provides a suitable anchorage for a guide means and one end of an inverting means through which the container bodies are passed after their discharge from the applicating mechanism.

Rectangular frame |09, of similar shape and size to frame |02, is rigidly secured by bolts |I0 to uprights I I secured by bolts I I2 to framework I. Rectangular frame |09 provides a suitable anchorage means for the opposite end of the inverting mechanism.

The inverting mechanism comprises a plurality of helically wound guide rods rigidly welded or otherwise secured between frames |02 and |09.

As shown in Figures 4 -and 5 of the drawings, rod ||3 is secured at one end to the top of frame |02 at ||4 and is helically wound to the opposite end secured to the bottom of frame |09 at II5. Rods ||6 and I|1 extend from side ||8 of frame |02 to side |I9 of frame |09. Rods |20 and |2I extend from side |22 of frame |02 to side |23 of frame |09. Rods II6, II1, |20, and |2| are helically wound similar to rod ||3 and each extends in parallel relationship to rod ||3.

Rod 3 at frame |02 engages the top edge of the container body discharged from the applicating mechanism and follows such edge during the twisting of the container body, which edge at the discharge end of the inverting mechanism will be on the bottom. Rods ||6 and ||1 are in opposed relationship with rods |20 and |2| and serve as guide means at the sides of the container bodies during the twisting operation. The inverting mechanism reverses the ends of the container bodies by which they are rested on their uncoated end.

'Ihe coated ends of the container bodies, after being discharged from the applicating mechanism, are held out of contact with the device to prevent scraping and rubbing with elements of the device. 'I'his is accomplished by means of frictional engagement directed against the side wall of the container bodies.

The frictional engagement means comprises a metal strap |25 having a plurality of threaded openings |26, which strap horizontally extends from plate 10 to side ||8 of frame |02 and from frame |02 follows for a suitable distance, the path dened between rods ||6 and ||1. Strap |25 is secured at one end to plate 10 by bolt 1| and toframe |02 by welding or in any other suitable manner. Strap |25 at its opposite end is rigidly secured to standard |21 by nut |28. Standard |21 is rigidly secured to beam |29 of framework A plurality of brushes |30 are adjustably secured on strap 25 by means of spindles |3| in engagement with threaded openings |26. Brushes |30 are provided with bristles |32 adapted to impinge against the side walls of container bodies 25. Bristles |32 are of a rather stiff, coarse type and are suitably adjusted to rmly support the container bodies with the least resistance to their forward movement.

Plate |33 is rigidly secured to side |22 of frame |02 and serves to hold the container bodies in engagement with bristles |32 during their travel between the applicating mechanism and the inverting mechanism.

Guard member |34 having a ared end |35 is welded or otherwise secured to the top of frame |02 and serves as a guide means for directing the uncoated ends of the containerbodies into the inverting mechanism.

Container bodies 25 are impelled through the inverting mechanism by force of succeeding container bodies conveyed through the applicating mechanism.

Container bodies 25 are introduced to the applicating device by endless conveyor |36, comp-rising endless chains |31 and |38 extending from a loading point not shown. As the container bodies are discharged from conveyor |36, they are impelled by the force of succeeding bodies through channel |39 to the applicating mechanism. Channel |39 is defined on the one side by guide plate 10 and on the opposite side by guide plate |40 rigidly secured to upright |4| by bolts |42, secured to framework by bolts |43. Plate |40 extends from a source not shown to end |44 adjacent pulley wheel 16 and serves to direct the container bodies to the working area of belt 15.

Channel |39 is provided at its bottom with guide member |45 welded or otherwise secured to crossmember |46 extending between uprights 14 and 4|. Guide member |45 is terminated in close proximity to roller and serves to elevate the container bodies traveling thereover to the uppermost plane of roller |0.

Endless chains |31 and |38 of conveyor |36 are driven by sprocket wheels |41 and |48 pinioned to shaft |45 journaled in bearings |50. Bearings |50 are slidably mounted upon brackets |5| secured to uprights 14 and |4| by bolts |52. Bearings |50 are adjusted to a fixed position on brackets by means of bolts |53 pivotally secured in uprights 14 and |4|.

Shaft |49 is driven by chain |54 trained between sprocket wheels |55 and |56 pinioned to shafts |49 and |51, respectively. Shaft |51 is journaled in bearings |58 secured to uprights 14 and |4| by bolts |59. Shaft |51 is driven by chain |66 trained between sprocket wheels |56a and 62 pinioned to shafts 51 and |63, respectively. Shaft |63 is journaled in bearings |64 integral with brackets |65 secured to framework by bolts |6I. Chain |60 in its travel between sprocket wheels |56a and |62 is guided over idler sprockets |66 and |61 to prevent interference of the chain |60 with other parts of the device. Shaft |63 is driven by chain |68 mounted upon sprocket wheel |69 and connected by suitable gearing to a motor not shown.

As the container bodies 25 are discharged'from the inverting mechanism, they pass on to conveyor by which they are carried to a crimping mechanism. Conveyor |10 consists of endless chains |1| and |12 mounted on sprocket wheels |13 and |14 pinioned to shaft |15 journaled in suitable bearings not shown. Conveyor |10 is preferably connected by suitable gearing to the same source of power as conveyor |36 and operates in synchronism with conveyor |36.

Conveyors |36 and |10 are also synchronized with belt by which container bodies 25 will travel from the loading point, through the applicating mechanism, the inverting mechanism, and onV to the crimping operation, in an uninterrupted manner.

In the operation of the device, container bodies are successively loaded upon conveyor |36 with one of their ends resting on conveyor elements |31 and |38. As the container bodies are discharged from conveyor |36, they are slidably urged forward on guide member |45 between plates 10 and |40 to the uppermost plane of coating roller |0.

The container bodies are rotatably conveyed between the ends of roller I0 by endless belt 15 in operative relationship with plate 10. Due to the manner in which plate 10 is mounted with respect to roller |0. the container bodies rotatably traverse the longitudinal surface of roller I0, with an ever-changing portion of the lower ends thereof in substantially tangential engagement with the outer surface of roller |0 and with the portion of the inner peripheral edge corresponding to the end portion in engagement with roller |0, in opposed relationship to the rotation of roller |0.

A continuous film of congealable material is carried by roller I0 from a supply contained in tray 8 by which the lower ends of the .container bodies, as they are rotated in engagement with roller |0, are coated with the material and simultaneously an endless bead of the material is deposited upon the inner peripheral edges of the container bodies adjacent the coated ends. 'Ihe film of compound on roller |0 is regulated to' a predetermined thickness by adjustment of roller 33 to or from roller |0.

As the container bodies are discharged from the applicating mechanism, the coated edges are held out of contact with elements of the device by means of plate |33 and bristles 32 of brushes |30. The container bodies are urged forward between plate |33 and bristles |32 by force of succeeding container bodies discharged from the applicating mechanism and thence through the inverting mechanism. The inverting mechanism serves to reverse the ends of the container bodies. Hence the container bodies are rested upon the uncoated ends. The container bodies, after their discharge from the inverting mechanism, pass on to conveyor |10, by which they are carried to a crimping mechanism.

Except where used in a more specic sense, the term end as used in the specification and claims is used in the broad sense of including the end edge and the inner and outer peripheral edges.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a roller having a gradually increasing diameter, means for applying a lm of congealable material to the outer surface of said roller and means i'or conveying the ends of tubular bodies between the ends of said roller and in a plane parallel to the axis of said roller, said tubular bodies being conveyed in the direction of increasing diameter of said roller. l

2. A device of the class described comprising a roller having a gradually increasing diameter, means for applying a lm of congealable material to the outer surface of said roller and means for rotatably conveying the ends of tubular bodies between the ends of said roller and in a plane parallel to the axis of said roller, said tubular bodies being conveyed in the direction of increasing diameter of said roller.

3. A device of the class described comprising a roller, means for applying a film of congealable material to the outer surface of said -roller and means for rotatably conveying the ends of tubular bodies in contact with and parallel to the axis of said roller, said roller being graduated in diameter in the direction of movement of said bodies by which a portion of each of said ends is maintained in engagement with said roller.

4. A device of the class described comprising a material applying roller, means for applying a lm of congealable material to the outer surface of said roller, a scraping roller mounted in relation to said material applying roller to regulate the thickness of the lm thereon and spring t'ensioned scraper means pivotally mounted at the ends of said rollers at their plane of adjustment.

5. A device of the class described comprising a material applying roller having a graduating diameter, means for'applying a film of congealable material to the outer surface of said roller and a scraper roller having a graduating diameter counter to said material applying roller and mounted in adjustable relation to said material applying roller for uniformly regulating the thickness of the lm applied to said material applying roller.

6. A device of the class described comprising a roller having a graduating diameter, means for applying a lm of congealable material to the outer surface of said roller, guide means substantially intersecting the longitudinal surface of said roller and means in operative relation with said guide means for rotatably conveying the ends of tubular bodies substantially parallel to the axis of said roller and in the direction of said graduating diameter, said graduating diameter providing means for maintaining said roller in engagement with the ends of said bodies.

7. In a device of the class described including a material applicating mechanism comprising means for rotatably conveying tubular bodies and means for applying congealable material to the ends of said bodies, inverting means at the discharge end of said applicating mechanism comprising a plurality of helically Wound guide rods for reversing the ends of the container bodies discharged from said applicating mechanism and mean for frictionally maintaining the tubular bodies between said helically Wound guide rods.

8. In a device of the class described including a material applicating mechanism comprising means for rotatably conveying tubular bodies and means for applying a congealable material to the ends of said bodies, inverting means at the discharge end of the applicating mechanism comprising a plurality of helically wound guide rods positioned to engage the sides of the tubular bodies to reverse the ends thereof and means for 'frictionally maintaining the tubular bodies between said helically wound guide rods.

the uncoated ends and the sides of the tubular bodies to reverse the ends thereof and means for frictionally maintaining the tubular bodies relative to said helically wound guide rods.

10. In a device of the class described including a material applicating mechanism comprising means for rotatably conveying tubular bodies and means for applying a congealable material to one of the ends of said bodies, inverting means at the discharge end of said applicating mechanism, said inverting means comprising a plurality of helically Wound guide rods positioned to guide said container bodies and reverse the ends thereof, said guide rods being positioned to engage the uncoated ends and the opposite sides of said container bodies, and means for frictionally engaging the side walls of the container bodies, said frictional means extending within the path defined by the guide rods positioned at the sides of the container bodies.

11. In a device of the class described including a material applicating mechanism comprising means for rotatably conveying tubular bodies and means for applying a material to one of the ends of said bodies, inverting means at the discharge end of said applicating mechanism, said inverting means comprising a plurality of helically wound guide rods positioned to guide said container bodies and reverse the ends thereof, said guide rods being positioned to engage the uncoated ends and the opposite sides of said container bodies, and flexible means adapted to impinge against the side walls of said bodies to hold the container bodies within the inverting means, said exible means extending within the path defined by said guide rods positioned at one of the sides of said bodies.

12. In a device of the class described, a material applicating mechanism comprising a roller having a gradually increasing diameter and providing an inclined surface, means for applying a congealable material to the outer surface of said roller, means for regulating the thickness of the material on said roller, means above said roller for rotatably conveying the ends of tubular bodies in contact with and parallel to the axis of said roller and in the direction of inclination of the surface of said roller, means for successively supplying tubular bodies to said conveying means and inverting means at the discharge end of said mechanism to reverse the ends of said container bodies, said tubular bodies being impelled through said inverting mechanism by force of succeeding bodies discharged from said applicating mechanism.

13. In a device of the class described including a roller and means for applying a lm of congealable material to the outer surface of said roller, means mounted above said roller and comprising a guide means traversing the longitudinal surface of said roller surface, and a conveying means in operative relation With said guide means for rotatably conveying a tubular body relative to said roller, successive portions of one of the ends of the tubular body being moved in contact with the surface of said roller, the wall portions of the tubular body correspending to the portions of the end in contact with the surface of said roller being'maintained substantially in the vertical plane of the axis of said roller.

14. In an applicating device including a rotatable applicating roller and means for applying coating material to the surface of the roller, a conveying means mounted longitudinally and above the top surface of the ro1ler,the conveying means being adapted to carry a tubular body with a portion of one of its ends in contact With the surface of the roller, the portion of the end of the tubular body and the portion of the side Wall of the tubular body corresponding to the portion of the end each being maintained in the vertical plane passing through the axis of the roller.

15. An applicating device comprising a horizontally disposed conveying means for conveying material in a substantially horizontal path, an applicating roller mounted longitudinally relative to and beneath the path of movement of the material carried on the conveying means and with its crest substantially tangent to the path of movement of the material carried on the conveying means, the roller presenting an angularly upwardly inclined surface relative to the path of movement of the material carried on the conveying means and means for applying coating material to the surface of the roller.

16. An applicating device comprising means for rotatably conveying a tubular body in a forwardly direction With one of the ends of the tubular body being moved in a substantially horizontal plane, an applicating roller mounted longitudinally relative to the path of movement of the end of the tubular body, the roller presenting an angularly upwardly inclined surface relative to the path of movement of the end of the tubular body, and means for applying coating material to the surface of the roller.

CHARLES T. WALTER. 

